against my own thoughts. Liam continued his campaign. Flowers arrived daily, gourmet l
wers. I gave the food to the security guard. I took the sub
er without judgment. I could watch terrible reality TV for hours. I could
on, Ben Car
Liam's a mess. He's not eating, he's not
oblem, Ben," I sa
he Belmont tonight. Just come have on
ad his chance
a friend. I'm w
foolish part, wanted to believe that maybe this time would
a corner booth before they saw me. Liam, Ben, a
en by the crowd, and I could
e was saying, swirling the wine in her gl
's crazy about him. She just
iscussing me like I was a faulty applianc
atorial whisper. "Do you remember in college, how you tried so hard
mortified. "
hame I was so hung up on that stupid art
tless. I thought you were going to follow
weren't my style. The trips he planned to places I had no interest in but that Chloe had
to date me was too sudden, too out of character. Now I knew why. He had just b
ed him. I had made myself believe his cool detachment was just his personality. It wasn't. It was
id, patting Liam's hand. "A bit... si
iam said, but his def
head. "The way she freaked out about the fire
I couldn't li
ind the pillar and wal
up to me. Their faces were
d directly at Ben. "Is that what you think? I'd love to h
beet red. "Ava, I.
y voice dripping with ice. "Stop
id, standing up. "Le
hree of them. "A little reunion. The man who abandoned me, the woman he's se
oe said, her eyes wide
ir? Let's talk about how Liam pursued you for years. Let's talk abou
ent pale. "Th
ell me it's not true, Liam. Look me in the ey
jaw working. He couldn't say it.
coalesced into a single, decisive action. I picked up m
. Water dripped from his h
d a vow. "And this time, it's not a n
or Chloe's shocked face o
was just the moment I finally opened my eyes. It's about the years of lies.
first time, I felt free. I turned around and walked out